There is one more Rochester Downtown Farmers Market before Christmas. It is your final chance to get all your favorite local foods for your feast.  There are also poinsettias, wreaths and many other great holiday ideas. The market is December 22nd from 9:00 to Noon at Graham Park at the Olmsted County Fairgrounds in Building 41. For more information go to http://rochesterdowntownfarmersmarket.org/

September 22 from 8:30-11:30 is the Kids Day Event for the Rochester Downtown Farmers Market.  It's a special day at the Market when appreciation is shown for the littlest customers.  There will be fun activities that promote a healthy lifestyle, for the kiddos, including a scavenger hunt that leads the kids through the Market. For more information, go to http://www.rochesterdowntownfarmersmarket.org/

The Conserve & Save program, serving Austin Utilities, Owatonna Public Utilities and Rochester Public Utilities, is back for a second year. The program allows people looking for new refrigerators and/or freezers to turn in operating but energy inefficient units for a $35 incentive. The incentive is good for each qualifying appliance, with a maximum of two units per program life.

This is the 2nd year for the program, which generated an incredible response in 2011. The 2012 program starts today, May 15th, and runs through October 31, 2012 or until funds are exhausted.

In order to qualify, the refrigerator or freezer must be 10-30 cubic feet, operating secondary unit, in working order and owned by an RPU customer. The appliance will also be picked up, free of charge, inside the customer's home from the address listed on their billing account.

You can get more information by calling 1-877-341-2259 or at www.rpu.org